Content snychronization

Abstract

Synchronization of content, events and other executables is contemplated. The synchronization may include synchronizing events executing on one device relative to events executing on another device, such as to facilitate syncing an interactive application executing on a tablet computer or other mobile device to a television program or other content interfaced through a television or other interface.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to synchronization, such as but not necessarily limited to synchronizing content interfaced through a first device with content interfaced through a second device.BACKGROUND[0002]Synchronization relates to establishing a temporal relationship between two or more devices such that the timing of events at one device can be scheduled or coordinated with the same or different events occurring at another one or more devices. One type of synchronization relies on independent clocks included at each device to time pre-programmed events to commonly execute at pre-scheduled times. This type of synchronization may rely upon a clocking message or other type of synchronization signal to be periodically communicated to each device in order to maintain a common time reference between each of the clocks, and thereby, synchronized execution of the desired events. The synchronization provided by merely coordinating device clocks relative to a common...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention relates to synchronizing content between devices. More specifically, it addresses the problem of synchronizing content when multiple devices are involved, where timing may vary due to transport or processing variances. The invention provides a system for facilitating synchronization between devices by compensating for variances in timing. It allows for independent synchronization of events at different devices, and can be used with various types of devices such as mobile phones, computers, and televisions. The technical effect of the invention is to enable seamless synchronization of content and events between devices, compensating for differences in timing and ensuring a common time reference.

Problems solved by technology

The synchronization provided by merely coordinating device clocks relative to a common time reference may not be sufficient when events are to be synchronized relative to a time reference independent of such clocks.

The synchronization of content can be particularly problematic when the content is broadcasted, multicasted or otherwise commonly transported to a plurality of primary devices as the primary devices may process the content for output at different speeds and / or the transport time at which the content is delivered to the primary devices may vary depending on the transmission medium, network congestion or other influences.

Synchronizing the primary devices and the secondary devices by setting their clocks to a common time reference may not provide sufficient synchronization since the content timing is unique to each primary device and independent of the clock timing.

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